Blu-ray Review: Deleted Scenes and Great Sound Add to Neil Marshall’s THE RECKONING
Drew Tinnin
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The Reckoning starring Charlotte Kirk, Sean Pertwee, Joe Anderson, Steven Waddington
Written by Neil Marshall, Charlotte Kirk, Edward Evers-Swindell
Directed by Neil Marshall
After originally premiering at Fantasia International Film Fest back in 2020, Neil Marshall’s brutal version of Witchfinder General is now on Blu-ray ahead of its May 13th premiere on Shudder. Marshall is still one of the premier names in horror garnering acclaim for his earlier werewolf classic Dog Soldiers and his claustrophobic bat people chiller, The Descent. It seems fitting that the English director would now be tackling the witch craze in The Reckoning, a mostly misunderstood film filled with striking images of prying demons and over-the-top abuse from heartless clergymen. It’s a tough watch but for any true fans of this period and witchcraft, this disc is probably worth picking up.
It’s set during the Great Plague of the 17th century. Grace Haverstock (Kirk) is suspected of sorcery and imprisoned unjustly by the great witch-hunter Judge Moorcroft (Pertwee). As she endures a seemingly endless barrage of physical and psychological torment, the actual Devil begins to invade her thoughts. Moorcroft is most likely based on real-life witch hunter Matthew Hopkins. A man who terrorized countless women throughout the English countryside back in the mid-1600s.
Related: THE RECKONING Will Now Premiere on Shudder on May 13th
The Blu-ray itself isn’t exactly bare-bones but we’re not talking a Criterion level deep dive here, either. Luckily, the deleted scenes found inside actually add some softer, more intimate moments. Along with more medieval imagery that highlight the visual strengths of The Reckoning. The haunting look of Moorcraft’s minions donning top hats and crow-beaked masks. Along with the gothic goat-horned prosthetics of this version of the Devil are some of the more indelible looks in all of Marshall’s films to date. The DTS-HD 5.1 Audio and 1080p HD Widescreen video are the new standard. But my particular copy looked and sounded fantastic on my Sony TV and Sonos Beam.
For those of you that don’t subscribe to Shudder (why? WHY?), The Reckoning Blu-ray also includes a free 30-day trial. Are you still curious about the offerings of Neil Marshall? Are you looking for a more modern jumping-off point into the horror of the witch trial era? Then this is a good addition to your collection.
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The Reckoning
Summary
The Reckoning is Neil Marshall’s fiery homage to films like Witchfinder General done in his signature style. For a modern take on a classic setup, pick up the Blu-ray or check out the film on Shudder in May.
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